Govt gets support for covid vaccine acquisition

GOVERNMENT has received expressions of interest and offers of support from a number of private sector and foreign missions based in Zambia to support the Covid-19 vaccine acquisition and deployment, Minister of Health Jonas Chanda has said.

Dr Chanda however said the expressions of interest and support would await cabinet decision.

He said the memo outlining recommendations for the Covid-19 vaccine acquisition and deployment was scheduled for consideration by Cabinet soon.

“We remain cognizant of the challenges being faced the world over around issues of Covid-19 vaccine efficacy against some coronavirus variants, which information will play a key role in recommended vaccine choices for Zambia as informed by scientific evidence from genomic sequencing,” said Dr Chanda.

Dr Chanda also said a number of developed countries had indicated that they may be able to offer a portion of their over procured vaccine stocks to developing countries.

And Dr Chanda said

Government was consulting and exploring public-private partnerships for establishment of PCR testing facilities at points of entry, borders and airports to stop the importation of Covid-19 variants and other diseases.

He urged the public not to fear or panic over the reopening institutions of learning because pupils and students were safe. Dr Chanda said schools surveillance had been key to provide baseline on the Covid-19 situation in learning institutions as well as guidance monitoring.

He announced that 609 new Covid-19 cases were recorded in the last 24 hours out of 4,144 tests conducted.

Dr Chanda said four Covid-19 deaths were recorded while 1, 001 were discharged from isolation centres and home management.